Sliding door structure



Patented July 7, 1953 oFFIcEJ sLmIvNG Doon STRUCTURE Max S. Karp, West Los Angeles, Calif. Y Applicatioamine zaissrseriai N9'. v232,991

This invention relates to a sliding'door structure that is adapted to close closets, cupboards', and similar enclosures, the invention being more particularly adapted to close cupboards as embodied in furniture.

An object of the invention is to provide a slidl ing door structure that has the doors in flush alignment-when extending across the front of an enclosure of the nature above indicated. v

Another' object lofy the invention is to provide a sliding door structure in which'the adjacent edges of two sliding doors normally seek a forward position in flush alignment.

"A further object of the invention is to provide, in a structure as contemplated, a forwardly and downwardly angledtoe plate to support the lower adjacent edges of two sliding doors so kthatthe adjacent edges of the -doors seek a forward ush alignment when the doors a cupboard or the'like.

The invention also has for its objects to pro--V vide such means that yare positive in operation', convenient in use, easily installed in working position and easily disconnected therefrom, economical of manufacture', relatively simple, and of general superiority and serviceability.

The invention also comprises novel details of construction and novel combinations and arrangements of parts, which will more fully appear in the course of the following description; However, the drawing merely shows and the following description merely describes two embodiments are positioned to close of the present invention, which are given by way of illustration or example only.

In the drawing, like reference characters desigl- A nate similar parts in the several views. f In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a front view of a cupboard provided i with a sliding door structure according to the invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view as taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a similar view of one end of the cupboard, showing one of the doors in open position.

Fig.l ciris a still larger and broken vertical sectional view as taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view of a modication.- Y

In the drawing, the top wall Il), bottom wall II, and side walls I2, while showing or defining the walls enclosing a cupboard, also represent the front frame of a cabinet, wardrobe, closet, or other rectangular enclosure.

According to the invention, the opening framed by the mentioned walls is closed by two'similar doors I 3 andl I4, respectively at. the left and right, and arrangedside-by-side in flush relationship. A handle I5 is provided on the left end of the left door and a right end of the right door..

similar handle on the I4 are adapted to t 'to hold may be replaced l formed by rabbet I Ii.A

position of door edge 20 of door I3.

Ztl-19)"- The side Walls I2 on their inner faces, are

each providedwith a groove I into whichthe respective left and right edges I1 ofdoors I3 and the doors upright when arrangedin closed position.

Each door,v along the top `and bottom edge thereof, is provided with arabbet IB and, ateach lateral edge, the rearward face of each door is provided .with a charnfer I S softhat saidlateral edges Varesulostantially thinner than the main body of the doors. `The width of grooves I6 is made accordingly. The slope 'of chamfers I 9 is quite flat to allow the inner lateral edge 20 of one door to slide past the adjacent edge 20 of the other door when rearwardly'displaced as shown bythe dot-dash lines of Fig. 2. The chamfers I9 by flatly curved faces leading from the rear face of each doorl to the thinner lateral edges Il and '20.

The lower face of wall I Il and the upper face of wall II are each provided withva longitudinal groove 2I that extends between grooves I6, said grooves ZI being slightly wider than the sum of the thicknesses of one Fig. 4 shows this width of grooves 2I relative to the door portion occupied thereby. Adjacent side walls I2, grooves 2| are gradually reduced in Width, as at 22, until the same are reduced substantially to the width of grooves I6 and aligned and 2l comprise anv-inwardly directed peripheral groove in the cupboard frame. Intermediate walls I2 and preferably midway between lsaid walls, a toe plate 23 is provided in the lower groove 2I.

ward angle, substantially as shown 5. In practice, plate 23 is made of lin Figs. 4 and rearwardly to the angular dot-dash line position of Fig. 2. 'I'he handle IE5 of said door is then employed to slide the rsame to the position of Fig. 3, the edge I'I of said door, as guided by the restrictions 22 of grooves 2l, moving rearwardly to achieve a position parallel'to and rearward of door I3. The handle will limit the open 'I4 when the .same encounters To close door I 4, the handle I5 is pushed toward the right until groove restrictions 22 guide edge I'I into groove I5 at the right. Edge 2&3 of door I 4 is now clear rests on toe plate'23. door, the lower corner 2d will slideV forwardly toe plate to bring 'door of the door adjacent edge on sloping face 2 of the door and door edge 25l therewith.` Grooves I6 ySaid plate is formed with anupper sloping surface 24 that has a forward andv downhardwood andV the sloping surface 24 provided with a coating of of edge 2i) of door I 3 and Due to the weight of the edge :2.9 vto itsinitial; flush! respective doors, said position with door I3. In any case, a slight additional push on the handle will swing the door forwardly to the flush position. This position is maintained so long as door edge ,l1 is in groove i5. Even if the door is somewhat ajar,V it will retain a forward position because the rear longitudinal edge of tongue 26 is engaged with the toe plate. Door I3 is opened and closed in the same manner.

As shown in Fig. 5, the lower edgeof each door adjacent lateral edge 2li maybe provided with a friction-reducing element such as a ball 2.5. The toe plate engaged by said ball may be Vwaxed hardwood or metal, as desired, so that the ball will readily roll forwardly. Y

The doors slide easily because-they ride on plate 23. Thus, wheels or rollers to support the doors are not needed in the construction land would be additional to thepresent improvements.V

While I have illustrated anddescribed what I now regard as the preferred embodiments of my invention, the construction is, ofv cou-rse, sub.- ject to modification without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention. I, therefore, do not wish to restrict myself to the particular forms of construction illustrated and described, but desire to avail myself of all `modifications that may fall within claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to obtain lby Letters Patent, is:

l. A Vsliding door structure comprising frame of a rectangular enclosure and 'having upper and lower inwardly-*directed longitudinal grooves therein, a pair of sliding doors arranged in flush side-by-s-ide position and having their respective upper and lower edges engaged in said grooves, said doors having adjacent lower corner portions above an intermediate part oi the lower groove, and a forwardly and downwardly sloping toe plate in said groove beneath and constituting a sliding support for said lower corners of the doors to slidingly .guide the latter forwardly.

2. A sliding door structure according to claimV 1: friction-reducing means interposed between said sloping Atoe plate and the door corners engaged thereby.

3. A sliding door structure comprising the rectangular frame of an enclosure and having an inwardly directed peripheral groove therearound, the upper and lower portions of said groove being wider than the lateral portions, a p air of sliding doors engaged in said groove and arranged in Aflush side-by-side position, when closing the enclosure, with the outer lateral edgesV of the doors disposed in said lateral portions of said groove, the adjacent inner edges of the doors be ing each rearwardly movable, selectively. in the wider upper and lower groove portions to bring the edge so moved rearward of the adjacent edge and adapting the door so moved to be slid relative to the other door and therebehind, and -a sloping toe plate in the mid part of the lower groove portion beneath and constituting a sliding support for the lower adjacent cornersof the doors, when closed, to slidingly guide the same forwardly.

4. A sliding door structure according to claim 3: each door being provided with a forwardly projecting handle and the handles being each disposed adjacent the outer lateral edges of the handles comprising doorsliding means and also means to swing the doors forwardly on the sloping toe plate.

the scope of the appended 5. A sliding door structure comprising the rectangular frame of an enclosure and having an inwardly directed peripheral groove therearound, the Vupper and lower being wider .than the lateral portions, a pair of sliding doors engaged in Vsaid groove and arranged in flush side-by-side position, when closing the enclosure, with the outer lateral edges of the doors disposed in said lateral portion of said groove, the adjacent inner edges of the doors being rearwardly movable, selectively, in the 'Wider upper and lower groove portions to bring and adapting the tive to the other the v Y tion of said groove,

'gitudinal rearward rabbets rearward of the adjacent edge door so moved to be slid relado'or, and therebehind, and a transversely sloping toe plate. the ymid pari of the'lower groove/rotti@ beneath. and con: stit-utinga sliding support. ier the lower .adjacent the edge so moved corners o f the doers, when olosed. to slidinglyv theupper and lower provided With leildenins upper and ier-ward tongues on the doors,

guide the same forwardly, edges of; each door 'being lower .longitudinal the width'of the tions being somewhatgreater than the. Sumpf the thicknesses ofV one door and .one of said tongues.Y

6. A sliding door structure comprising the rectangular frame of an enclosure and having van inwardly directed peripheral groove therearound, the upper and lower portions of said grooves being wider than the lateral portions,a pair of sliding doorsengagedin said groove and a-rranged in ii-ush side-by-side position, whenclosing the enclosure, the doors disposed in said lateral groove por- -the adjacent edges of the doors being rearwardlyl movable, selectively, in the wider upper and lower groove portions to bring the edge so .moved'rearward of the adjacent edge and adapting the door so moved to be slid relative to the other door and therebehind, and a transversely sloping toe plate in the mid part of the lower groove portion beneath and constituting a sliding support for the lOWer adjacent corners of the doors, when closed, to slidingly guide the same forwardly, the upper and lower edges of each door being provided with longitudinal rearward rabbets defining upper and lower longitudinal forward tongues on the doors, the width of the wider upper and lower groove portions being somewhat greater than the sum of the thicknesses of one door and one of said tongues, both lateral edges of provided vide said doors with edges iitting the narrower lateral groove portions and providing clearance for one door edge to slide past the adjacent edge of the other door when said one door edge is rearwardly moved preparatory to opening one door.

MAX S. KAR?.

References cited in the ole of this'paient UNITED sTATEs PATENTS portions .of said grooves" upper and lower groove pore with the outer lateral edges of both doors being with vertical rearward chamfers to pro,- 

